Apparatus for dislodging filter cake from filters



09.191991. D. B, BANKS Em 2,996,914

APPARATUS FOR DISLODGING FILTER CAKE FROM FILTERS Filedvoct. 2, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 1 Och 19, 1937- D. B. BANKS er A1. 2,096,314

APPARATUS FOR DISLODGING FILTER CAKE FROM FILTERS Filed Oct. 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct.- 19, 1937. D. B. BANKS Er Al. v 2,096,314

APPARATUS FOR DISLODGING FILTER CKE FROM FILTERS Filed Oct. `2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 o1.19,1937. D, B BANKS ETAL 2,096,314

APPARATUS FOR DISLODGING FILTER CAKE FROM FILTERS Filed Oct. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-5h68# 4 Patented Oct. 19, 1937 APPARATUS FOR DISLODGING FILTER CAKE FROM FILTERS Daniel B. Banks, Drexel Hill, and Paul D. Barton, Meron, Pa., assignors to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a. corporation of New Jersey Application october 2, 1935, serial No. 43,170

1c claims. (o1. 21o-20o) In an application filed by us November 26,

1934, Serial No. 754,714, we disclose a filteringv apparatus which is especially adapted to filter precipitated wax from mineral oil. In that apparatus a number of annular trays are arranged, one above another, Within a tower. Each tray comprises a filtering section, a wash section and a filter-cake removal section. The mixture of oil and wax is admitted'to the ltering sections of the trays; and a washing liquid is admitted to the washing sections of the trays. A number of sets of lter leaves is arranged circumferentially over each tray. The sets of lter leaves are rotated together so that each set passes successively through a filtering section, a washing section and a filter-cake removing section. A vacuum is applied to the filter leaves whilethey are in the filtering and washing sections of the trays. When a set of lter leaves is in the filter cake removing section of a tray, gas under pressure is applied to` said leaves in order to dislodge therefrom the wax that was previously deposited thereon while such leaves were passing through the filtering section of such tray.

' In the apparatus of said application, a revoluble hollow vertical shaft extends along the axis of the tower. Within this shaft is a number of vertical collecting pipes, arranged around the axis of the shaft and rotating bodily with thel shaft, having mechanical and fluid-channel connection with the filter leaves so `thatl the latter rotate with the shaft and pipes and so that means are afforded for passage of filtrate and wash'liquid from each set of filter leaves to a corresponding pipe and for passage of gas under pressure from each pipe to the corresponding set of filter leaves of each tray. These pipes, bodily rotatable, as stated, with the shaft, communicate, at their lower ends, with vertically extending channels formed in a valve member that rotates with the shaft. These channels may be, and substantiallyare, mere continuations of the pipes. They open at their lower ends through the base of the rotary valve member and are adapted, in the rotation of the valve memben'to successively communicate with a. filtrate outlet, a wash fluid outlet and a gas inlet or blow opening, all formed in a stationary valve member the top of which is pressed upward against the base of the rotary valve member. The two outlets named are connected with a source of vacuum. The blow opening is connected with a supply of gas under pressure.

In the voperation of the apparatus only one channel of the rotary valve member is at any given time in communication with the gas blow opening of the stationary valve member. Communication begins, of course, as soon as the ad- 'vance edge of a channel passes beyond the near edge-of the blow opening in the stationary valve member and such communication is maintained until the rear edge of the rotating channel passes beyond the rear edge of the blow opening. The

gas blowing operation, therefore, involves a gradually increasing flow of gas followed by a maximum gas flow vfollowed by a gradually decreasing-flow of gas.

While the operation is effective, with a sucient gas pressure, to blow the lter cakes olf the lter, it is open to certain serious objections. 'Ihe gradual application of the gas pressure does not establish the ideal condition required to completely dislodge the wax, some of which tends to tightly adhere to the filter leaves. Further, the duration of the gas flow through each rotating channel is prolonged, and the flow through successive channels is-almost continuous, since the disconnection of one rotary channel with the gas inflow is almost immediately followed by connection of the next rotary channel of the series with the gas flow. Further, the pressure of the gas must be maintained at a high value to insure the approximately complete removal of the wax cakefrom the lter leaves. The expense involved in an almost continuous flow of gas under high pressure is a serious factor of operating costs. In a propane dewaxing plant, the most desirable gas to use is propane and the cost of condensing the propane gas used in the cake-removing operation is very considerable.

We have discovered that the most effective way to apply the gas pressure is to apply it in the form of a sudden blast of maximum volume and short duration. The blast must, therefore, be released after the channels in the two valve members are in complete register. Such operation is not only eifective to completely remove the wax cakefrom the filter leaves, but the volume of gas required is much reduced and the gas pressure may also be permissively reduced.

The object of our invention is to provide a reliable means to enable the gas pressure to be so applied. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the'precise time of application of the gas pressure may be predetermined as desired and whereby, also, the dura.- tion of the gas ow may be predetermined as de- 'aired` A preferred embodimentofl the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein.:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the means for supplying successive blasts of fllter cake dislodging gas.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the stationary and rotary valve members and of the "electric eye which is operable, through means shown in Fig. l, to control thel admissionr of gas to the channels communicating with the filter y leaves.

Fig. 31s a transverse section looking in the-.direction of arrows 3, 3 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. i is a transverse'section looking in the direction of the arrows 4, 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a short section oi!l one of the annular rotary plates and of one of the apertures formed thereby for passage of light to the photo-electric cell.

The rotary valve member I0 (see Fig. 2) is provided with tubulanchannels which, at their.

with three arcuate channels, namely, a filtratev outlet 2|, a wash iiuid outletd22, and a gas inlet 23, the openingof which is comparatively short.

measured circumferentially (see Fig. 3), so thatit cannot align, at any given point in the rotation of valve member I0, with more than one channel Depending from'the base of the rotary valve member I0 is a bolt 24 having two collars 25 and 26 between which'is conned a spring/ 21. By means of a roller bearing 28 on collar 26 the stationary valve member 20 is supported, and spring 2] operates to. maintain the stationary vvalve member pressed against the rotary valve member. A cap 29 depending from the base of the.

v stationary valve member excludes admission; to

the space around the bolt and spring, of air which might possibly leak through the bearing to the l- \trate or used wash uid ow channels, 2| and 22.

The stationary valve member 20 is connected to ,the yoke 32 by pins 3|, the yoke being supported from frame 33 in any suitable way that wi1l prevent valve member 20Lfrom turning.

l.Connected with the blow opening 23 of the stationary valve member 26 is one end of a pipe 34 whose other end /(see Fig. l) communicates with a valve chamber 35,` which is connected, through a pipe 36, with a tankror chamber-31 adapted to hold, under suitable pressure, say 20 pounds gage, 'intermittent charges of gas, each of a volume equal to that intended to be admitted intermit-` tently to blow opening 23 for` transmission througheach of the rotating channels vas they successively register, ,in the `rotation of valve `member I0, with blow opening 23.

While any channel registers with the blow opening 23, the precise time of admission to theA blow opening of the gas charge is determined by the action upon a photo-electric cell of light rays which pass through aperturesvwhich, infthe rotation of the rotary elements of the -ltering apparatus, are moved successively into the path of said devised and consider preferable will now be described (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5),. y

In our prior application above mentioned, we disclose a contrivance providing a mercury seal between the rotary and stationary valve members to exclude admission of air to the joint between said members, and since we mount the devices carrying the light apertures on this contrivance,

it will be briefly described. vSurrounding and integral with `the stationary valve member 20 Vis a laterally and upwardly extending flange 40, to the upper edge of which-is bolted a ring 4| supporting a. mercury-containing J-shaped cup 42, which extends within the deep annular groove formed by the iiange 40. A ring 43 is bolted to an annular` flange on the rotary valve member I0 and carries a depending cylindrical sleeve 44 which extends into cup 42 nearly to its bottom and well below the bath of mercury in the cup.

Secured to sleeve 44 is an annular ange 45 to which isbolted an annular plate 50 having spaced apart arcuately extending slots 48 corresponding in number to the channels Resting on the annular plate 50 is another an-nular plate 5| having similar arcuately extending slots 49. The upper plate 5 I, is circumferentiaily adjustable on the lower plate 5|) so as to provide light apertures, of any desired dimensions, which will registerwith the light rays (from the lamp 51 hereinafter described) at any desired equally spacedapart points in the rotation of the rotary elements,

. opening. Further, it is desirable to control the instant of admission of the gas charge with-even more accuracy, since with different wax-bearing 'oils the time and duration of the wax-expulsion gas blast y'should be^ varied.- The construction above'described enables this line control and regulation to be accomplished.

The plates 50 and 5| must, of course, be held in the fixed relation to which they are adjusted. Extending around ythe periphery of plate 50 is a ring 52 having an inwardly extending lowerv flange bolted to plate l5|) and an inwardly 'extend-f ing upper ange overhanging plate P5|) and eX- tending over and contacting with the peripheral portion of -plate'5|. Spring/strips 53 attached to plate 5| extend-over plate, 5| and ring `52and 'i By means of a"bolt and nut 54 each spring strip may be tightened tc hold it firmly against fring `52 and thereby prevent circumferential displacement of the plate 5| upon plate 505. By unf screwing the nuts on these bolts, thepressure' y.porting plates.50 and 5|, is,` in effect, a split clamping ring which is held tightly Iabout sleeve 41| by means of a clamping bolt (not shown) so l that the iixed plate 58 may be adjusted with respect to ysleeve 44 by loosening the clamping bolt and moving the annular Iii'ange 45 as desired.

Secured to ring 4I is a frame 55 upon which is mounted a cylinder 56 whose axis coincides with al circumferential line extending through the light apertures 48-49. cylinder 56 is a tube 62 .carrying an incandescent lamp 51. Within and between the top and bottom of cylinder 56 are plano-convex lenses 58 which converge the light rays from the lamp to a focal point withinthe light apertures 48--49 as they are successively brought, in the rotationof the rotatable elements of the apparatus, into register with such rays. Above the plates 50 and 5| is positioned a photo-electric cell 59.

Carried on frame is a support 6| for electricl wire conduits 63 and 64`, the former having a exible section connected with tube 62. On the top of conduit 64 is mounted a T conduit 85, one lateral arm of which carries the photo-electric cell 59, while the other arm is connected with an electric wire conduit 66 leading to a Arelay panel 98 (see Fig. 1 Through the conduits described extend the wires through which current is supplied from the relay panel to the photo-electric cell 59 and the lamp 51.

Connected with a source of supply of actuating fluid intended tolbe introduced to the tank 31 is a pipe 18 (see Fig. 1) which, through a pressure reducing valve 69, communicatesv with a bulk supply tank 1i which is under a suitable pressure, which should be the same as that desired to be applied to tank 31. A pipe 12 connects tanks 1i witha valve chamber 13. A pipe 14 connects valve chamber 13 with tank 31.

Within valve chamber 35 is a valve 38 having a stem 39 extending through one wallfof a diaphragm chamber 11 and connected with a diaphragm 18 within chamber 11. Within valve chamber 13 is a valve 15 having a stem 16 extendingthrough the other wall of the diaphragm chamber and connected with diaphragm 18. A spring is confined between a collar on valve stem 39 and a fhged abutment 19. When the pressure is balanced on opposite sides of diaphragm 18, spring 80 holds valve 38 closed and valve 15 open, allowing a charge oi' gas to enter tank 31. TheY capacity of this tank, and, therefore, the volume of gas ,admitted thereto, isfdetermined by admitting a predetermined volume of a suitable liquid into the tank through an inlet pipe 8|. The gas capacity of the tank may be reduced by admitting more liquid totank 31 and may be increased by drawing oil' liquid through pipe 82. i

A three-way valve chamber 81 has a pipe connection 83 with pipe 12, a pipe connection 85 with diaphragm chamber 11, and'a vent pipe 88 ywhich may open to the atmosphere. On pipe 83 is a pressure reducing valve 84. In -valve chamber 81 is,a valve 88 having an arm which is actuated .by a solenoid 9| which is electrically connected through wires 92 with the'relay panel 38.

'I'he relay panel 98 is of conventional type and need not be described. When the photo-electric cell 59 is activated by the impingementv thereon D of the light rays from Llamp 51 passing through of the'gas thereby admitted to pipe 85 and the diaphragm chamber ilexes diaphragm 18 to the right (Fig. 1) `against the action oi' spring 80,

Screwed into the bottom of of the rotary valve member i6. Thence the' charge of gas is blown through the illter leaves (not shown) that are in open communication with f channels Il and the wax dislodged therefrom.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the charge of gas is not transmitted gradually to the filter leaves as the, mouth of a channel Il, in the rotation of the rotatable elements of the apparatus, starts to overlap the edge of the blow opening 23, and the charge -is not gradually cut oi as the mouth of the channel is gradually closed. On the contrary, no gas is admitted to blow opening 23 until a predetermined time aiter a channel Il starts to register with the blow opening and, ordinarily, not until after said channel is open to said blow opening to the iull extent of its arcuate width. A gas blast of maximum volume will therefore be delivered to the filter leaves suddenly and with maximum force, thereby insuring the complete dislodgment of the wax from the lter leaves. Not only is the wax-dislodging power of the gas thus greatly increased, but the amount of gas required may be materially reduced. In the prior apparatus the gas pressure was required to be high and the rate of Yowrapid during the entire time that a channel- Ii was open to blow opening 23 and therefore involved the consumption of a quantity of gas materially greater than that required in the present apparatus.

As soon as an aperture 48, 99 passes beyond the point of impingement of the light rays, the photo-electric cell is rendered inactive and the circuit through solenoid 9i is opened, and valve 88 is turned to disconnect pipes 83 and 86 and connect pipe with vent 86. Thereby the pres- .sure on opposite sides of f the diaphragm 18 is tank 1i to tank 31, which is released immediately n 'after the rext aperture 48, 49 moves into position to allow the light from lamp 51 to again impinge upon the photo-electric cell 59. n

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a iilter of a rotary valve having a rotating member and a substantially stationary member, said rotating member having an opening communicating with the iilter, said stationary member having a blow opening with which said opening in said rotating member during its rotation is adapted to register, a gas supply, a gas flow passage between the gas supply and the Mblow opening, means to open the gas iiow passage, and cooperating means on said rotating member and said stationary member adapted at a predetermined point in the rotation of said rotating member and while its opening is in registry with said blow opening to operate the gas ow opening means. y

2. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having aY channel communicating with a illter to eiect dislodgment therefrom of a illter cake, the combination, with said channel member, oi' a relatively flxed member having a blow 'opening with whieh'the mouth of said channel during its travel is adapted to register; a gas supply, a photo-electric cell, means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to the gas supply, and means adapted, in the travel of said member and while its channel is ,in registry with said blow opening, to activate said cell at a predetermined point in the travel of said member, whereby the time of admission of gas to said channel may be controlled.

3. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is'admitted through a traveling member having a chan'nel communicating with a filter to effect dislodgmentr therefrom of a ,filter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travelis adapted to register, a gas supply, a photo-electric cell, 'means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to, the gas supply, a' sourca of light and a plate traveling coordinately with said channel member and having an aperture through which, in the course of travel of said plate, and while said channel is in registry with the blow opening, light from said source is adapted to impinge upon said cell, whereby the time of admission .of said gas to said channel may be controlled.

4. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a filter to effect dislodgment therefrom of a filter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel isadapted to register, a gas supply, a photo-electric cell, means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to the gas supply, a source of light, plates traveling coordinately with said channel member having light apertures through which, while said channel is in registry with the blow opening, light from said source is adapted to impinge upon said cell, said plates being relatively adjustable to vary the position in said plate of the effective light opening provided by said apertures.

5. Ina filtering apparatus in whic gas under pressureL is successively admitted through a number'.fof rotating channels communicating with filters to effect dislodgment therefrom of filter cakes, the combination, withsaid rotatable channels, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening wit which the mouths of said channels, lduring eir rotation, successively register, a gas supply, a yphoto-electric cell, a light source, means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to the gas supply, an annular plate surrounding said chan-y nels and rotatable therewith and having apertures, correspondingnin number to the channels, through which, in the course of its rotation, and while successive channels register with the blow opening, light from said source is adapted to impinge upon said cell.

6. In a filtering apparatus in which gas underI pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a filter to effect. dislodgment therefrom of a filter cake, the

combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travelis adapted to register, a gas tank, a pipe through which gas is adapted to be conveyedpfrom said tank to said blow opening, and means, oper` f ating coordinately with the traveling ,element adapted while said channel mouth is not in regis-- ter with said blow opening, to convey predeterl mined charges of gas to V'said tank and adapted,

accenna.

. while said channel is in registry with said blow `opening and at a predetermined point in its' travel, to open communication through said pipe between said tank and the blow opening.

'7. In' a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a filter to;

effect dislodgment therefrom of a filter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with vwhich the mouth Vof said'channel during its travel is adapted to register, a gastank adapted to re-F ceive, hold and discharge successive 'charges of gas to 'said blow opening, means, including a source of light and a photo-electric cell, controlling the discharge of gas from the tank to the blow opening, and means moving coordinately with the traveling channel adaptedgwhile said channel is in registry with said blow opening and at a predetermined point in its travel, to expose said cell to the light from said source.

8. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under vpressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a filter to effect dislodgment therefrom of a filter cake, the combination, with said channel member of a relatively flxed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel is adapted to register, a gas tank adapted to receive, hold and. discharge successive charges of gas, a gas outflow passage from said tank to the blow opening, a gas reservoir, a gas infiow passage to said tank from said reservoir, means to open the iirstgas outow passage and close the gas infiow passage and alternately therewith to open cthe gas inflow `passage and;l close the gas outflow passage, devices controlling the opera-y tion of said means, and means moving coordinately with the traveling channel adapted to control the operation of said devices at predetermined pointsin the movement of said traveling channel.

9. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member of gas, a gas outflowvpassage from said tank -to the blow opening, a gas reservoir, a gas infiow f passage to' said tank from said reservoir, valves controlling the respective passages, meanstending to open the valve in the second passage and close the valve in the first passage, a pressure a'ctuable device adapted when actuated to open the valve in the first passage and close the vvalve in the second passage, a third passage communi-v cating with ysaid gas reservoir and said pressure actuable device a valve in the thirdV passage adapted in one position to openthe, passage to allow pressure to be transmitted to said devic'e and in another position to relieve said pressure,

,means controlling the last namedvalve, and

means moving'coordinately with the.traveling Vchannel adapted, at ipredeterminedpoints in the travel of said channel, to control the operation of said valve-controlling means.

l0. In a, filtering apparatus in which gas under combination, with said-channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel is adapted to register, a gas tank adapted yto receive, hold and discharge successive charges of gas, a gas outow passage from said tank to the blow opening, a gas reservoir, a gas inflow passage to said tank from said-reservoir, valves controlling the respective passages, means to open one valve and close the other and alternately therewith to open the second valve and close the rst valve, devices, including a photo-electric cell, adapted to control the operation of said valveoperating means, and means adapted, in the travel of the channel member and while it is in registry with said blow opening, to activate said cell at a predetermined point in the travel of said member.

11. In a ilteringapparatus in which gas under pressure is successively admitted through a number of rotating channels communicating with lters to effect dislodgment therefrom of filter cakes, the combination, with said rotatable channels, of a relatively fixed member having'a blow opening with which the mouths of said channels, during their rotation, successively register, a gas supply, a, passage between the gas supply and the blow opening, a stationary photo-electric cell, a stationary light source, means controlled .by the photo-electric cell adapted to control the closing and opening of said passage, an annular plate surrounding said channels and rotatable therewith and having spaced apart apertures, corresponding in number to said channels, arranged in a circumferential line intersecting the light rays from the light source to the photo-electric cell, I

whereby, in the rotation of said plate, said photoelectric 'cell is rendered alternately acti-ve and inactive at predetermined points in the rotation of said channels.

12.' In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is successively admitted through a number of rotating channels communicating with lters to effect dislcdgment therefrom of' filter cakes, the combination, with'said rotatable channels, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouths of said channels, during their rotation, successively register, a gas supply, a photo-electric cell, a light source, means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to the gas supply, two annular plates surrounding said channels and rotatable therewith, said plates each having light apertures, corresponding in number to the number of rotating channels, through which, in the course of their rotation, light from said source is adapted to impinge upon said cell, said plates being circumferentially adjustable, one relatively to the other, to predetermine the points in their rotation whereat the photo-electric cell is actuated by the light from said source.

13. In a ltering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a lter to eiect dislcdgment therefrom of a filter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel is adapted to register, a gas supply, a photo-electric cell, means controlled by the photo-electric cell to open said blow opening to the gas supply, a source of light, plates traveling coordinately with said channel member having light apertures through which, while said channel is in registry with the blow opening, light from said source is adapted to impinge upon said cell, said plates being relatively adjustable to vary the position in said plate of the effective light opening provided by said apertures, and spring clips engaging said plates and adapted to be loosened to permit said adjustment and to be made and tightened to holdA the plates in their adjusted position.

14. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a lter to effect dislcdgment therefrom of a filter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively fixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel isadapted to register, a gas tank adapted to receive, hold and discharge, to said blow opening, successive charges of gas, a gas reservoir from which successive charges of gas are supplied to said tank, and means to connect said gas tank alternately with said reservoir and said blow opening.

l5. In a filtering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a' lter to effect dislcdgment therefrom of a lter cake, the combination, with said channel member, of a relatively iixed member having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel is 'adapted to register, a gas tank adapted to receive, hold and discharge, to said blow opening, successive charges of gas, a. gas reservoir from which successive charges of gas are supplied to said tank, means adapted to connect said gas tank alternately with s'aid reservoir and said blow opening, and means moving coordinately with the traveling channel and adapted, at predetermined points in its travel, to

render the rst named means operative to effect said alternate operation.

16. In a iiltering apparatus in which gas under pressure is admitted through a traveling member having a channel communicating with a ilter to effect dislcdgment therefrom of a iilter' cake,

the combination, with said channel member, of, a relatively fixed member 'having a blow opening with which the mouth of said channel during its travel is adapted to register, a gas tank adapted to receive, hold and discharge to said blow opening, successive charges of gas,a gas reservoir from which successive charges 'of gas are supplied to said tank, means, including a photo-electric cell, a source of light, and mechanism controlled thereby, adapted to connect saidgas tank alternately with said reservoir and said blow opening, and means, moving coordinately with the travelingchannel and adapted, at predetermined points in its travel, to render said photo-electric cell alternately active and inactive and thereby effect said alternate operation. 

